Below we present a leaf from the January 26, 1861 edition
of Harper's Weekly. This leaf was printed just as the Civil War was getting
underway. It presents an eye-witness account of the first shots of the
Civil War, with South Carolina firing on the Union ship, the Star of the
West. This page was created from the original, 140+ year old leaf from the
January 26, 1861 edition of Harper's Weekly.

"When we arrived about two miles from
Fort Moultrie —fort Sumter being about the
same distance—a masked battery on
Morris Island, where there was a red Palmetto flag flying, opened fire
upon us—distance, about five-eighths of a mile. We had the American flag flying
at our flag-staff at the time, and, soon after the
first shot, hoisted a large
American ensign at the fore. We continued
on under the fire of the battery for over ten minutes, several of the shots going clean over us. One passed just clear of the
pilot-house. Another passed between the
smoke-stack and walking-beams of the engine. Another

struck the ship just abaft the fore-rigging, and stove in the planking; and
another came within an ace of carrying away the rudder. At the same time there
was a movement of two steamers from
near Fort Moultrie—one of
them towing a schooner (I presume an armed schooner) —with the intention
of cutting us off. Our position now
became rather critical, as we had to approach
Fort Moultrie
to within three-fourths of a mile before we could keep away for
Fort
Sumter. A steamer approaching us with
an armed schooner in tow, and the
battery on the Island
firing at us all the time, and having no
cannon to defend ourselves from
the attack of the vessels, we concluded
that, to avoid certain capture or destruction, we would endeavor to get
to sea. Consequently, we wore round and
steamed down the channel, the battery firing upon us until their shot
fell short."

A reporter of the
Evening Post, who was on board,
thus describes the scene:

" On we go; the soldiers are below with loaded
muskets,
and the officers are ready to give the word if there is anything to do. Now it is broad daylight, and we are making
directly into the guns of Fort Moultrie, whose black walls
are distinctly visible. The little steamer at our right is burning a
signal light aft, and is making all possible head-way
up the harbor. Now we discover a red Palmetto flag at our left on Morris Island,
a little village called Cummings
Point, and apparently but little more than a mile from
Fort Sumter.

" 'Is it possible that those fellows
have got a battery off here?'
asks one.

'' No,' answers another, ' there is no battery there.'

"But there is. It is now a quarter past seven, and we
are about two miles from Forts Sumter and Moultrie, which
are equidistant from us, and, suddenly, whiz-z! comes a richochet shot from
Morris
Island. It plunges into the water and skips along, but falls short of our
steamer. The line was forward of our
bow, and was, of course, an invitation
to stop. But we are not ready to accept the proffered
hospitality, and the captain pays no attention to it, except
to run up the
stars and stripes at the mast-head—a garrison flag which
was on board. A moment of anxious suspense, and bang! goes a heavy cannon from
the same masked battery. The shot falls short of us a hundred
yards or more, and bounds clean over our vessel aft, nearly on a line
with the head of a sailor, but luckily a little above it.

" On we go, and—whizz ! again goes the smaller gun
first fired, and another
richochet shot skips along
the water and falls short of us.

"' Booh !' exclaims the captain ; '
you must give us bigger
guns than that, boys, or you can not hurt us.'

"On we go, without heeding the compliments of our
Charleston friends. Another
moment and bang! again goes the
heavy gun. The ball now
strikes our ship in the fore chains, about two feet above the water.
A seaman was holding the lead
to take the soundings, and the ball struck directly under his feet. It is
not surprising that, under the circumstances, Jack was strongly inclined to
take to his heels, and he begins to scramble up with might
and main, when the captain assures him that there is no
danger, one ball having struck so near him; on the principle,
I suppose, that lightning never strikes twice in the
same place. Jack, reassured, patiently takes his place
and drops the lead again.

"The ball, fortunately, was too far spent to go through
the side of our vessel, although it left an honorable scar.

The battery continues to play
upon us, and a huge ball comes clean over us, near the wheel-house. We are not
yet within range of the guns of Fort Moultrie, and yonder is a cutter in tow of a steamboat,
preparing to open fire upon us.
A moment longer, and we shall
be in range of these three batteries. The gunners on Morris Island are growing
confident; if they get the right range they will send a shot through our
side, scattering death and destruction.
Moultrie, directly in front, will bring her heavy guns
to bear, and will drive their deadly missiles into our bow,
while the cutter will open on our right.

" Why does not
Major Anderson open fire upon that battery and save us? We look
in vain for help; the American flag flies from Fort Sumter, and the American
flag at our bow and stern is fired upon, yet there is not the slightest
recognition of our presence from the fort from which we look for protection. The
unexpected battery on Morris Island has cut off all hope of escape by running
the vessel aground near Sumter and taking to
the boats. Is it possible that Fort Sumter has been taken by the South
Carolinians? If it has not, why does not
Major Anderson show that he will protect us, or at least recognize us in
some way ? To go within range of the
guns of Fort Moultrie is to expose vessel, men, and stores
to almost instant destruction, or to capture by the enemy.

"' Helm out of port!' shouts the Captain, and the
Star
of
the West
is turned about without any great loss of time, as you may well imagine. We turn
without accident, and steam
away, with the stars and stripes still floating, and the battery still playing
upon us by way of a parting salute."

A person
who was on Morris Island at the time
of the firing thus describes the excitement:

"The shots were fired by the Citadel Cadets, under
command of Major Stephens, who has thus had
the honor, which he so much
coveted, of opening the impending conflict. Major Stephens is at the head
of the State Military Academy, which occupies the
Charleston Citadel. He is
apparently about thirty-five years of age, with rather thin
black hair, black and heavy beard, and large black eyes. He is about the
medium size, of lithe form, with quick, nervous motions. His guns were directed
at the steamer with scientific
accuracy, and even the shot which failed to strike the ship fell very
near her. Her flag was pulled down, and she immediately retreated. She was
struck certainly three times, and perhaps five. The last shot
which took effect was fired after she had turned to go out.
The steamer was seen to shoot forward with a jerk the instant
this shot struck her. Two balls were seen to strike
her hull; one just forward of her wheel-house, the other upon the
larboard quarter."

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. CONGRESS.

ON Saturday, January
12, in the Senate, Senator Seward
made his great speech on the crisis, expatiating on
the injury that would be done to the whole country by the
dissolution of the Union, and offering certain concessions,
which are given below. The Senate was crowded to hear
him, and all the diplomatic corps were present. Nothing
of importance was done after he ended.—In the House,
Mr. Clark, of Missouri, asked leave to offer a resolution in
reference to the reported occupation of the Government
buildings at St. Louis by United States troops, and moved
a suspension of the rules ; but objections were made, and
the resolution was not entertained. The Speaker laid before
the House a letter from the Mississippi delegation,
announcing their withdrawal from Congress. An attempt
was made by Southern members to have their names, and
those of the South Carolina delegation, stricken from the
roll of the House, but it did not succeed. The Navy Appropriation
Bill was then taken up, and a long debate followed
a motion to strike out all appropriations, on the
ground that the Navy was to be used to make war upon
the seceding States. The Southern members announced
their intention to defeat appropriations for the Army and
Navy, by the usual Parliamentary expedients, until a full

debate could be had. A
compromise, however, was finally
effected, on an agreement that a three days' debate should take place on the
Army Appropriations, and the Navy bill was allowed to pass.

On Monday, 14th, in the Senate, Senator Bigler presented
a bill embracing a compromise similar in tenor to Senator
Crittenden's. Senator Brown announced that in consequence
of the secession of his State he should abstain
from taking part in any further proceedings of the Senate.
Senator Grimes, of Iowa, asked for information as to any obstructions of the
Mississippi by bodies of men. A speech on the political crisis was made
by Senator Polk, of Missouri.—In the
House, Mr. English, of Indiana, asked leave to offer a resolution instructing
the Committee of Thirty-three to report the proposition of Mr. Crittenden
for the pacification of the country, but objections
were made. Several measures were introduced bearing on the present
condition of affairs, which were referred to
the Select Committee of five on the President's Message. A resolution was
adopted instructing that committee to consider and report as soon as
possible upon that portion of
the Message which recommends that a vote of the people
be taken upon the great questions at issue between the
North and South. Mr. Stanton, of Ohio made an effort to appoint today
for the consideration of the bill providing
for the organization and discipline of the militia of the District of Columbia,
but he failed by one vote. The House then went into Committee of the Whole on
the Army Appropriation Bill, and the general debate, which was on
Saturday agreed to, was commenced by Mr. M'Clernand,
of Illinois, who took strong ground against the right
of secession, and closed with an appeal to all conservative
men to rally to the support of the Constitution and the Union. He was followed
by Mr. Cox, of Ohio. Mr. Corwin, of Ohio, presented the majority report
of the Committee of Thirty-three;
Mr. Taylor, of Louisiana, obtained leave to have the minority report
printed, and the House adjourned.

On Tuesday, 15th, in the Senate, a number of memorials
were presented urging the passage of the Crittenden resolutions,
and they were taken up as the special order. After
a short discussion, however, they were laid over to make
way for the Pacific Railroad bill, which had also been appointed
as a special order. A motion to postpone its consideration
indefinitely was defeated—Ayes, 12 ; Nos, 39.
Subsequently two other motions to postpone it—one of them
made by Senator Crittenden—were defeated, and after
considerable debate the Senate adjourned pending a motion
by Senator Benjamin, of Louisiana, to amend the section
relating to grantees.—In the House, Mr. Harris, of
Maryland, presented a petition signed by twelve thousand
citizens of Baltimore, irrespective of party, praying for the
adoption of Mr. Crittenden's Compromise Resolutions.
The House then went into Committee of the Whole on the
Army bill, and the general debate on the condition of the
country, commenced on Monday, was continued by Messrs.
Reagan of Texas, M'Clernand of Illinois, Stanton of Ohio,
Crawford, Hill, Love, and Hardeman of Georgia, Rust of Arkansas, Adrain of N.
J., and Anderson of Missouri.

On Wednesday, 16th,, in the Senate, a Message was received
from the President, explaining the appointment of
Mr. Holt to perform the duties of Secretary of War ad interim.
Senator Crittenden's resolutions were then taken up, and on motion of
Senator Bigler, the Senate voted, '27
to 26, to postpone the consideration of all other business until
they were disposed of. Senator Powell's amendment, extending the provisions
relative to the Territories to all territory that " may hereafter be
acquired," was adopted, 29 to
24. Speeches were made by Senators Simmons and
Anthony, of Rhode Island. A vote was taken on a motion to postpone
consideration of the resolutions, and take up
and fix a day for the consideration of the Kansas Bill, and
it failed by a vote of 25 for and 30 against it. The Senate also refused
to amend by striking out, the preamble and
resolutions, 21 to 20—Senators Benjamin,
Slidell, and Wigfall not voting. A
motion to lay the resolutions on the table was then carried, and the Senate
adjourned pending a motion to reconsider, after a short Executive Session.—In
the House, the general debate on the condition
of the country was continued. Mr. Cox, of Ohio,
presented a series of resolutions, passed by the Legislature
of that State, expressing attachment to the Union and declaring
against the right of secession. After considerable discussion they were laid on
the table and ordered to be printed. Messrs. Garnett of Virginia, Gurley of
Ohio, Maynard of Tennessee, Holman of Indiana, and Morris of Illinois,
addressed the House on the great questions at
issue before the country.

On Thursday, 17th, in the Senate, Senator Hunter called
up the Deficiency Bill, which was passed, after being amended in various
particulars. The item for the support of the captured Africans was
reduced from $900,000 to $450,000.
An item was audited for the payment of $300,000 for the establishment of
a coaling station for the Navy at Chiriqui. Provision was made for a Bureau of Public Printing. After the
Deficiency Bill was disposed of the Senate took up the Pacific Railroad Bill.
Various amendments were proposed and voted upon, and several
Senators expressed their views for and against the measure.
The proceedings were finally interrupted by a motion
to go into Executive Session, which prevailed, and the Senate soon afterward
adjourned.—In the House, the Senate's joint resolution allowing Commodore
Paulding to accept rewards
from Nicaragua was reported from the
Navy Committee, but objection was made to its consideration,
and it was laid over. Mr. Clemens, of Virginia,
presented a memorial signed by 28,000 persons in his Congressional
District, asking for an adjustment of the
Slavery
question in the Union. The House, in Committee of the Whole on the Army Bill,
then continued the general discussion
of the condition of the country, the speakers being
Messrs. Thomas of Tennessee, Sickles of New York, Ashley of Ohio, and Perry of
Maine.

On Friday, 18th, in the Senate, the Crittenden resolutions
were again brought up, and again action upon them, was postponed until
Monday. The Pacific Railroad Bill was made the special order for Tuesday.
Senator Green, of Missouri,
introduced a joint resolution recommending
that the several States take immediate steps, by Convention
or otherwise, to make propositions for a compromise of the existing
difficulties. It was ordered to a second reading. The bill to authorize a loan,
to fix the duty on imports, and relative to the outstanding
Treasury notes, was
made the special order for Wednesday. The Kansas
bill then came up as the special order, and the debate on it continued
until 2 o'clock, when the Senate went into Executive Session to pass upon the
nomination of
Mr. Holt as Secretary of War.--In the House, the general debate in
Committee of the Whole on the Army bill was
concluded, and the bill was passed through the Committee
after the failure of a resolution offered by Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, to
the effect that no forces authorized by the bill should be used to subject any
seceding State. The principal speech made was by Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, refusing
to make any concessions.

In his great speech on Saturday 12th, the concessions
which Senator Seward declares his readiness to make are these:

First.—That each Slave State has the right to decide for
itself whether the bondsman, made such by its laws, is, within the State, still
a man or only property. Second.—That all laws of the States, Free or Slave,
which relate to fugitive slaves, or to "persons recently coming from, or
resident in other States, which contravene
the Constitution, ought to be repealed." This covers the repeal of Personal
Liberty laws, coupled with that of all laws in Slave States which improperly
restrain the freedom of
citizens from other States.

Third.—That he is willing to vote for an amendment to
the Constitution, declaring that it shall never be so altered
as to confer on Congress the power to abolish or interfere with Slavery
in any State.

Fourth.—That he will vote for any properly guarded
laws which shall be deemed necessary to prevent invasions
of States by citizens of other States, and to punish those who may aid or
abet them.

Mr. Seward also declares his disposition, after this disunion
movement shall have come to an end, to vote for a
Convention to revise the Constitution, on the general principle that its
excellence depends on its being a true embodiment
of the sentiments and wishes of the people, and
that amendments naturally become necessary from time to time for this
purpose. He says nothing, however, of the
particular amendments growing out of the present crisis, which such a
Convention might be expected to make.

ACTION OF THIS SENATE ON THE NEW APPOINTMENTS.

On 17th the President vent to the Senate the nomination of Mr. Holt as Secretary
of War. It was considered in
Executive Session, and, from all accounts, the preliminary discussion
was of an exciting character. An effort
was made by its opponents to refer it to the Committee on
Military Affairs, but this was strenuously and successfully resisted, by
the motion of reference being defeated by a vote of 34 against 13. The objection
to Mr. Holt by his opponents is
that, in their opinion, he is a coercionist, and this some of them openly
avow. On 18th Mr. Holt's nomination was confirmed by 38 to 13.

The nomination of Mr. McIntyre as Collector of Customs
in the neighborhood of Charleston is still suspended in the
Committee of Commerce.

WHY MR. THOMAS RESIGNED.

The following letter has been published :

" WASHINGTON, D. C., January 11, 1861.
" MY DEAR SIR,—It has not been in my power, as you
are aware, to agree with you, and with a majority of your
constitutional advisers, in the measures which have been
adopted in reference to the present condition of things in
South Carolina; nor do I think it at all probable that I shall
be able to concur in the views which you entertain, so far
as I understand them, touching the authority, under existing
laws, to enforce the collection of the customs at the port of Charleston.

" Under such circumstances, after mature consideration,
I have concluded that I can not longer continue in your
Cabinet without embarrassment to you, and an exposure
of myself to the just criticism of those who are acquainted
with my opinions upon the subject. I therefore deem
it proper to tender my resignation of the commission I now
hold as Secretary of the Treasury, to take effect when my
successor shall be appointed and qualified. In doing so I
avail myself of the occasion to offer you the assurance of
the high respect and regard which, personally, I entertain
for you, and with which I have the honor to he

" Your friend and obedient servant,

"PHILIP F. Thomas.

"THE PRESIDENT."

THE MISSISSIPPI ORDINANCE OF SECESSION.

The following is the text of that document: "An Ordinance to dissolve the Union
between the State of Mississippi and
other States united with her under the compact entitled " The
Constitution of the United States of America.'

The people of Mississippi in Convention assembled do
ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared,
as follows, to wit:

"Section 1. That all the laws and ordinances by which
the said State of Mississippi became a member of the Federal
Union of the United States of America be, and the same are hereby
repealed; and that all obligations on the
part of said State or the people thereof to observe the same
be withdrawn, and that the said State shall hereby resume
the rights, functions, and powers which by any of said
laws and ordinances were conveyed to the Government of
the said United States, and is dissolved from all the obligations,
restraints, and duties incurred to the said Federal
Union, and shall henceforth be a free, sovereign, and independent
State.

" Section 2. That so much of the first section of the
seventh article of the Constitution of this State as requires
members of the Legislature and all officers, legislative and
judicial, to take an oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, be and the same is hereby abrogated and annulled.

"Section 3. That all rights acquired and vested under
the Constitution of the United States, or under any net of
Congress passed in pursuance thereof, or under any law of
this State, and not incompatible with this ordinance, shall
remain in force, and have the same effect as if this ordinance had not
been passed.

" Section 4. That the people of the State of Mississippi
hereby consent to form a Federal Union with such of the
States as have seceded or may secede from the Union of
the United States of America, upon the basis of the present
Constitution of the said United States, except such
parts thereof as embrace other portions than such seceding
States.

"Adopted. Yeas 84, nays 15."

AFFAIRS AT CHARLESTON.

On Monday, January 14,
communication passed between
the Governor and Major Anderson. The Legislature passed
unanimous resolutions declaring that any attempt to
reinforce Fort Sumter would be regarded as an act of war.
The Governor sent a Message to the House of Representatives
detailing plans for guarding the coast and for the
purchase of three steam propellers. He prefers small iron
screw propellers of light draft, each propeller to be provided
with thirty-two seamen; one propeller to be stationed
at Charleston, one at
Beaufort, and one at Georgetown;
also to fortify all the inlets and months of the rivers with
redoubts and ordnance, and for boats to keep up a constant
communication between them as a protection against
sudden invasion and lawless bands. On Tuesday and
Wednesday a bill passed the House staying the collection of
all debts due to persons in the non-slaveholding States till
after December next. Governor Pickens sent in a Message
given below. On Thursday the Military Committee
reported in favor of raising more troops, and placing the
State on a war footing. The following telegraphic message
has been received from Governor Pickens:

"G. B. Lamar, President Bank of the Republic, New York:

"SIR,—Please have it authoritatively published that
no flag and no vessel will be disturbed or prevented from
entering our harbor unless bearing hostile troops or munitions of war for
Fort Sumter.

"All trade is desired, and all vessels in commerce only
will be gladly received. F. W. PICKENS."

THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY.

The following Message has been sent to the South Carolina
Legislature:

" EXECUTIVE OFFICE, January 7, 1881.
"To the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives:

"The Convention has passed resolutions authorizing the
Governor to raise two regiments of enlisted men—one regiment
for a service of twelve months and the other of six
months. Under these resolutions, I have commissioned officers from first-lieutenant down to third-lieutenant, and
in one instance I have commissioned a captain to raise immediately
an artillery company. To make it as little expensive as possible to the State,
I have for the present confined myself to the appointment of these
officers. Perhaps it may not
be necessary to enlist for the second regiment.

"The Convention also, by resolution,
authorizes the
Governor to call immediately into service companies with
their officers, somewhat on the principle of volunteers, and
to form them into a regiment by appointing of field-officers. I have made
a call of this kind for one regiment at present, and appointed Colonel Maxey
Gregg, a brave and able officer, to
command it. A portion of this company is in actual position on Sullivan's
Island, and other companies for it are rapidly arriving. This regiment is for
six months. If as regiment of men enlisted for twelve
months be raised, it will require about $200,000 to equip and support it.

"The regiment for six months, tinder Colonel Gregg,
will be at an expense of about $100,000. If the other regiment
of enlisted men for six months be found necessary, it will be an
additional expense of $100,000.

"I therefore most respectfully recommend that some provision be made for the pay
and support of these regiments in
such manner as the wisdom of the Legislature may adopt. I recommend also
that the bill which is before the
Legislature, entitled 'a bill for the establishment of a Coast Police for
South Carolina; be passed. This, it is supposed, will involve an expense of
$150,000.

"The act passed to provide an armed military force may
involve an expenditure of $50,000, and provision has been
made for raising $400,000 more for the purchase of arms
and munitions. These several sums amount to $1,400,000.
It is hoped that circumstances may arise which will give
a pacific settlement to our difficulties; and if so, every reasonable
endeavor shall be made to prevent the expenditure of the whole amount; but the more
certain way to produce a pacific
turn to events its to be thoroughly prepared
to meet any emergency. F. W. PICKENS. "

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